Tossing your faucet simply since it is leaking is wasteful and
costly. Lots of brass, steel, silicone, chrome-plated plastic, and die-cast zinc
annually end up in landfills since faucets are old and have reached the end of their life
expectancies. However countless other tons are
unnecessarily disposed of due to leaks that house
owners did not believe could be repaired.
Hanging onto a leaking faucet is expensive, too. The United States
Epa approximates that the typical U.S.
family wastes 9,400 gallons of water every year from
home leaks. This is enough to run 300 loads of laundry. Leaks alone represent almost one trillion gallons of wasted water throughout the U.S. per
year.

Water is an increasingly diminishing resource.
Given that the month-to-month price of water for
a typical U.S. household increased by 52% from 2010 to 2017, this is a
pushing concern that surpasses just a matter of an irritating drip in the evening.
Become part of the solution by repairing your own dripping faucet, both
for your own sake and for the good of the earth. This short article will assist you
repair any of the 4 most basic types of
family faucets. It may be easier than you
expect, and it normally will be more
economical than purchasing a new faucet.
Before You Start Your Repair
Faucet repair uses relatively few tools, many of which you may currently have on hand. Before you begin
your repair, you will want to have all tools and products nearby.
Tools and Materials
Screwdrivers
Allen Wrenches (Hex Wrenches).
Pliers.
Channellock-Style Pliers.
Bucket.
Clean Towel.
Clean Plastic Bin.
Egg Carton, Optional (ideally Styrofoam).

Duct Tape.
Distilled Vinegar.
Numerous Cleaning Up Implements: Q-Tip, Scouring Pad, Cloth
Rags, Old Tooth Brush.
Plumbing professional's Grease.
Utility Knife.
Parts Specific to Your Type of Faucet.
Preparation and Shut-Down Procedures.
Shut Water Off: Shut off water at the faucet.
Location Bucket: Put container listed below sink, near the water system lines. This will collect drips after you detach the
supply lines.
Disconnect Water: Shut off the two water system lines
under the sink (hot and cold). Disconnect supply of water valve
to sink under the cabinet. Let water drain into container.
Close Drain: Close with stopper. Guarantee that no parts fall down the sink by
sealing the sink drain with a couple of strips of duct tape.
Secure Components: Use duct tape to plier jaws to avoid
scratching fixtures. One fantastic recommendation is
to cut off the fingers from an old pair of gloves and slip the fingers onto the plier jaws. For the
ultimate in protection, purchase soft-jaw pliers at your local hardware
shop.4.

Prepare Collection Area: Set out bin, towel, and optional egg carton beside
sink to help in parts removal. Styrofoam egg cartons work best,
because they are not affected by water.
Prepare Cleaning Products: Location distilled vinegar and cleaning
implements near bin to eliminate mineral deposits on parts.
How to Fix Leaky Compression Faucets.
The most basic and oldest kind of faucet, the compression faucet is
identified by its different cold and hot controls which
need you to turn them clockwise to shut down the water.
Time Allotted: 30 minutes.
Tools and Materials: Channellock-type pliers; flat-head and Phillips screwdrivers; replacement
washer; plumber's grease; O-ring (optional).
Remove the faucet handles with pliers and flat-head screwdriver.
Get rid of the screw that attaches the handles to the valve stem with your
Phillips head screwdriver.
Pull the handle up to remove it.
Get rid of valve stem assembly cover, then remove the assembly
itself.
With your soft pliers or wrench, remove the hex-nut section of the valve stem
assembly by turning nut counter-clockwise.
Unscrew the hex nut the rest of the method and eliminate.
Find the stem washer, which will be found at the bottom of the valve assembly. It
may be worn down and in need of replacement.
Eliminate brass screw securing the stem washer in place.

Clean the washer holder location with vinegar and tooth brush to eliminate mineral deposits.
Get rid of old washer and utilize this as your model for when you go to the
store for a replacement. If the O-ring appeared to be worn, you can replace this as
well.
Reassemble: press the brand-new washer into valve seat, then attach with the
brass screw and the brand-new or existing O-ring.
Coat with plumber's grease.
Reassemble rest of faucet assembly.
How to Repair Ceramic Disk Faucets.
Double-control ceramic disk faucets have different hot and cold controls. The
gadget that begins and stops water circulation is a cartridge
including a pair of highly refined ceramic
disks. In some cases, only one side of this assembly may be
dripping. Test this out by alternately shutting off the
water system below the sink to see which side is
stopping working.
Time Allotted: 45 minutes.
Tools and Materials: Pliers; flat-head screwdriver; replacement cartridges; plumber's grease; O-
ring (optional).
Open the plastic or metal cover plate that covers the handles.
The faucet body is protected to the cartridge usually by a Phillips
head screw, though sometimes by an Allen screw. Remove the
fastener and separate the faucet body from the cartridge stem.

Get rid of the locking nut with Channellock-type pliers. In some models, you
may also discover a brass screw on top of the cartridge. If so, remove it and keep it, as you might need it when you set up the brand-new cartridge.
Slide out the retaining clip (or locking ring) with pliers, then lift out the cartridge. Take the old
cartridge to a hardware store for a precise replacement.
Soak remaining parts in vinegar, then brush off to remove deposits.
Reassemble the faucet in reverse. If you saved the brass screw from earlier and it is needed,
install this now.
Switch on your supply of water. Evaluate the system
for leaks.
How to Repair Single Cartridge (Sleeve) Faucets.
Cartridge faucets, often found in kitchen areas,
usually have a single lever that meets a large,
round base. The lever brings up to start the water flow. Side to
side motion manages the cold and hot functions. The optional one-
for-one replacement of the self-contained cartridge means less fussing with
little parts.

Time Allotted: 45 minutes.
Tools and Materials: Allen wrenches; screwdrivers; Channellock-style pliers;
cleansing materials; replacement cartridge (optional, if existing cartridge can
not be cleaned).
With your Allen wrenches, unscrew and loosen up the set screw, then remove the handle.

Raise the ornamental cap straight off. These are generally
delicate, so be careful. Use your hands, not pliers.
With pliers, carefully pry the cartridge loose and remove further by
hand. The cartridge will have seals on the bottom that you can pry out with the flat-head screwdriver.
With your cleaning implements, clean the seals and the location where the seals rest. To
do this, take in vinegar and brush off deposits with a Q-tip or old tooth brush. If the
deposits do not free easily, purchase a new cartridge.
With your screwdriver, remove the O-ring from the faucet, coat with
plumbing's grease by hand, then re-install in the faucet body.
Change the cleaned old cartridge or new cartridge, tightening up with
the Channellock pliers.
Carefully change the decorative cap.
Re-install handle, tightening the set screw with the Allen wrenches.910.
What if I don`t quickly attend to a leaky faucet? in Valley Village
SHOULD I REPAIR OR REPLACE A LEAKY FAUCET? in Valley Village